Lock for boxes



Aug. 18, 1925. 1,549,767

F. F. HAMILTON LOCK FOR BOXES Filed Sept. 15, 24

Patented Aug. 18, 1925.

UNITED STATES FRANCIS F. HAMILTON, 01:" INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

LOOK FOR BOXES.

Application filed September 15, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS F, HAMIL- ron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion 6 and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Looks for Bones, of which the following is a specification The object of this invention is to provide a lock for locking the lid to the body of a box, and the like, which will be ornamental, and also cheap to construct, and which cannot be operated to unlock the box except by one having the necessary instrument and who understands the method of operation, as by pressure, instead of by a movement of rotation.

I accomplish the above, and other objects which will hereinafter appear, by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1, is a front elevation of a box with my lock applied thereto. Fig. 2, is a front view of the hasp or catch detached from the box and lock. Fig. 3, is a like view of the lock. Fig. 4;, is a fragment of the box and lid in vertical section, united by my improved lock, also'shown partly in section, and Fig. 5, is a like view, showing the hasp pressed to disengagement with the lock, that is, in unlocked position.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views of the drawing.

The box 6 and lid 7 are of any usual and suitable construction and size.

The hasp 8 is of resilient sheet metal substantially T-shape. The top member has a pair of holes through which screws or tacks are passed to enter the flange of the lid and fasten the hasp to the inner side thereof. A 10 depending stem or strap is bent outwardly at a and downwardly at b, a short distance from a, and thence is continued to form the member 9, substantially parallel with the adjacent side of the box when the lid is closed. The lower extension of member 9 is defined by an inward bend to position an oblique member 10. The member 10 is preferably rounded as shown, and terminates almost in contact with the front face of the box. The lock 11 is here shown as a metal plate of diamond shape, having horizontally opposite tips, which contact the front of the box, with a hole through each tip for a fastening rivet or screw 12. A central member 13 is parallel with the front'of the box and is held away from it by the two Serial No. 737,700.

oblique members 14, 1 1, the distance being such as to receive the hasp between member 13 and the box with a rubbing fit. The central point 15, of the lock, is bent outwardly as shown to direct the hasp to position in the lock, with more certainty, the inwardly sloping hasp member 10 cooperating with the outwardly bent point 15 to insure the proper assembly of the hasp and look at each closing of the lid on the box.

Formed through the member 13, a little above the center, is a hole 16, through which a blunt instrument 17, is inserted into contact with the hasp, as shown in Fig. 5.

The metal of the member 13 is cut and bent below the hole 16 to form an inturned tongue 18, and leaves a vertically elongated hole 19 which simulates an ordinary keyhole in appearance in the lock.

The hasp member 9 has a vertically elongated hole 20, punched through it in suitable position to receive the tongue 18 when the hasp is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 1. The hasp cannot then be withdrawn until it is sprung inwardly by suitable pressure exerted by an instrument like 17, passed through the hole 16. This pressure is re sisted by contact of end 10 against the front of the box, which purposely misleads one unfamiliar with the construction, into believing that pressure through the keyhole will not unlock the box, but the application of sufficient pressure flattens the bow of the hasp to the position shown in Fig. 5, out of engagement with the tongue 18, which unlocks the lid of the box.

I do not desire to be limited to the form here shown, as it is obviously subject to many changes such as will occur to an expert locksmith without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a receptacle and a closure therefor, of a lock secured to one of said parts, said lock having a recess open toward the other member and having a hole for the insertion of a pressure key, and said lock having an inturned tongue, a hasp se cured to the other of said first two parts'and adapted to enter the look when the receptacle is closed, said hasp pressing elastically toward the tongue and having a perforation in which the tongue is engaged, and means to measurably resist the pressure to disengage the hasp and tongue.

2. A look having a recess with a hasp A U .i P P a 1 O O 2 L T .L .11 0d W a I H O b n said recess havvlng an mturned 5.011

1 (Lil 116011 00 rccei 1 then bent 1 .1361 (.1011 oppositely lock having 3. The (-olnbi ation with a 0653 having) a hole and said FRANCI 1b v5.11 having an 111 hole, of a hasp form 

